As I came into church this morning at a little after 9 am, my car thermometer read 89. Not a good sign.
But the heat makes me think about slowing down. It makes me long for a covered porch, where I can sit in a porch swing and drink cold lemonade.
I have been thinking a lot recently about time and seasons.
From Genesis 1 to Ecclesiastes 3, God seems to have designed the world to flow to a certain rhythm. Night and day, summer and winter, spring and fall are more then opposites with one being good and one being bad. They are all needed to make a complete whole.
With electric lights and modern heating and cooling systems, we are able to ignore the rhythms of nature and create our own. Although I consider myself completely modern and do not think that I can live without my DVR, I realize that my life is often out of rhythm. There is no natural flow of work and play, time to do and time to be. Even my spiritual life can seem to be more of tasks on my to do list than a time of creation and renewal.
I have no magic pill to take or to give to fix this problem for myself of others. But I think that I am going to begin to take some small steps to create a healthier rhythm for myself.
I have decided that at least for the rest of the summer, I will spend Thursday mornings in rest or play. I will seek out spots that allow me to breath deeply of God's Spirit. This Thursday will be spent with 4 other women clergy in my support and accountability group. Next Thursday, I am going to play with my daughters. Future days will include trips to Franklin Conservatory and the Columbus Zoo.
So here is the question for this week. Where do you go for rest and renewal?
When I go on vacation I put away the TV, radio, and oftentimes even the cell phone. I spend time talking to God about my new surroundings and people. He then always shows up in others, as they are kind to me, whether they are offering help or information. God is always everywhere and provides for my every need, even when I am not asking for it.
ReplyDeleteAs Lee Ann Womack's song - I Hope You Dance - says so eloquently, "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean". I am an ocean person and find comfort and relaxation whenever I'm near it. Although powerful and mighty, there is something very peaceful about the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide. Like Bev, I prefer to leave the cell phone turned off and simply take in the serenity of the water. As a people, we do have a problem paying attention to the rhythm of life. We miss the good stuff. We miss those around us. We miss God. It's time to recenter on the stuff that really matters in our life and minimize the distractions.
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ReplyDeleteOne kindergarten teacher that I read about tells her students, "You make my heart sing." I enjoy going on nature walks and using my camera to attempt to capture the beauty of God’s creation. The pressures of life seem to vanish as the camera lens helps me zero in on the intricacies of each view or thing I see. This is when “my heart sings.”
ReplyDeleteI tend to go back into my mind and recall a photograph of me at the beach (Cape Cod) in 1973. Like Dustin said, I appreciate that the ocean is a continual place of renewal. In the photograph I have a sand shovel and bucket in my hand and I'm clearly delighted to see that a wave has just erased my last sand project. It was a happy and peaceful time in my life. I also seem to be very happy with the way I look in my 1970s style bathing suit :)
ReplyDeleteBecause several of you talk about the ocean, I thought I would share one of my favorite quotes with you. This is from Marjorie Suchocki's "In God's Presence."
ReplyDelete"God is like water, flowing throughout the universe, like an ocean touching innumerable shores. The action of those waves is sometimes like a chaotic clash of elements, whose terrible dynamism reshapes what is and brings new things to emergence. And the action of those waves is also gentle and quiet, nourishing all forms of existent life . . .Are we those shores touched by God, showing in the shape of our sands what we have done with the waves of God upon our lives?"
I love to go for a drive in the country, and find a nce serene pasture or field of flowers to sit and have a conversaton with God. I enjoy the smell of the fresh growth of flowers and grasses. I love to feel the breeze on my face. And I feel the prescence of the Holy Spirit in the gentle ouch of the sun on my skin.
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ReplyDeleteThe time at night when all of the children are in bed and the house quiets and I am getting us ready for the next day is my best time to relax, play, and process.Also when I can squeeze in a massage and get the rare chance to drive somewhere by myself.
ReplyDeleteHighbanks Metro Park works miracles for me. Just stopping to stand among the tall trees brings a wonderful sense of renewal.
ReplyDeleteThe Olentangy Bike Path near home lets me be close to geese, egrets, herons, rabbits, sometimes a turtle!
Yes, I would have to say that I agree with all of you who posted about the ocean...it's definitely on my list of places to find rest and renewal. But living in Central Ohio, we're not too close to the ocean. :-(
ReplyDeleteSo, in light of this, I have found that simply sitting in a lawn chair in my yard is a wonderful substitute. You can observe the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife (and even the neighbors sometimes!) and just relax. I guess this explains why so many houses have porches!
Following my daily morning quiet time of devotions, I try almost each day to exercise with an intense cardiovascular walk with my headset and some hymns and contemporary Christian music. Heading into work with those tunes in my head means a lot!
ReplyDeleteThursday mornings have been working well for me.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, I drove to Northern KY and met my college roommates who I hadn't seen in probably 10 years.
The two hour drive down and back gave me time to think and connecting to people from my past reminded me how much I have changed and how much I owe to so many people for helping me to become who I am today.
Next Thursday I am thinking about going to the zoo. Anyone want to come?